Apparatus for dispersing finely divided solid particles in a liquid vehicle

ABSTRACT

A continuous duty, fully enclosed apparatus for deagglomerating solid, insoluble particles such as pigments and for uniformly distributing and dispersing the particles in a liquid vehicle which involves the utilization of a dispersing media such as steel shot which is retained in a vertically disposed generally cylindrical mixing vessel and agitated by rotating impellers or agitator discs connected to a drive shaft. The apparatus utilizes a rotor separator device connected to and driven by the drive shaft near the vessel outlet to separate media from the finished product just prior to discharging the latter from the mill apparatus.

United States Patent Schold [54} APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING FINELY DIVIDED SOLID PARTICLES IN A LIQUID VEHICLE Inventor: George R. Schold, Hickory Hills, Ill.

Filed: July 28, 1969 Appl. No.: 845,223

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,928,080 9/1933 Uebelacker ..2l0/360 A [451 Apr. 4, 1972 3,486,705 12/1969 Szegvari ..24l/l72 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Gary L. Smith Anorney-Frank R. Thienpont [57] ABSTRACT A continuous duty, fully enclosed apparatus for deagglomerating solid, insoluble particles such as pigments and for uniformly distributing and dispersing the particles in a liquid vehicle which involves the utilization of a dispersing media such as steel shot which is retained in a vertically disposed generally cylindrical mixing vessel and agitated by rotating impellers or agitator discs connected to a drive shaft. The apparatus utilizes a rotor separator device connected to and driven by the drive shaft near the vessel outlet to separate media from the finished product just prior to discharging the latter from the mill apparatus.

24 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 115' E H L J APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING FINELY DIVIDED SOLID PARTICLES IN A LIQUID VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for uniformly producing finely divided particles and uniformly distributing such finely divided particles in a liquid vehicle and more particularly to a unique means for separating dispersing media from the processed product.

In the past, various types of apparatus have been used for breaking up and dispersing insoluble particles such as pigments in liquid vehicles. These apparatus are used in the manufacture of paints, inks and other coating materials.

Most of the apparatus described in the prior art utilizes generally the principle of forcing a processed material through a screen separator disposed at the outer periphery of a mill unit with the assistance of centrifugal force. Agitating means in many cases assists in propelling the processed product outwardly toward a screen separator thus producing an additional force to force the product through the screen separator. This is so whether the mill unit is an open mill or a completely enclosed mill. One such type of apparatus is shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,135,474. This invention described herein may be used with the same kind of products as contemplated in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,135,474.

As the dispersing media which is generally heavier than the product being processed usually is thrown outwardly it naturally has a wearing effect on the screen separator associated with the apparatus. This is so whether the media used is metal shot or sand or other material. Obviously, there is a limit as to how large the openings in the screen separator can become. With some wear, larger openings gradually may appear in the screen separator. As larger openings are created in the screen separator, probabilities of allowing larger pieces of media to pass through the screen and into the finished product are increased.

The necessity of separating even the smallest particles of dispersing media from finished product becomes very apparent when the manufacture of printing inks is considered. This is so because foreign matter such as pieces of metal or sand are capable of scoring the expensive printing rolls with which the ink is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, instead of the final flow path being directed to the outside of the mill unit, it is directed inwardly toward the center of the mill.

I take advantage of the centrifugal force to throw the relatively heavier particles of media outwardly and out of the path of flow. I rely on the pressure supplied by the pump to force the relatively lighter processed product radially inwardly through a rotor separator, attached to and driven by the agitator shaft, to the outlet from the mill.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for deagglomerating solids and for dispersing finely divided particles in a liquid vehicle.

Another object is to provide rotor separator means operatively associated with a drive shaft for separating dispersing media from processed product.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for deagglomerating solids and for dispersing finely divided particles in a liquid vehicle wherein the centrifugal forces present during operation of the apparatus are effective generally to propel dispersing media away from the rotor separator and out of the normal path of flow to the outlet.

Still another object is to provide a rotor separator means for separating dispersing media from processed product wherein the rotor separator is driven by the agitator drive shaft and wherein processed product is forced through the rotor separator in opposition to centrifugal forces which are effective to propel dispersing media away from the rotor separator.

Another object is to provide a seal arrangement associated with the rotor separator which will insure that all processed product passes through the rotor separator before being discharged through the outlet of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide an improved double seal structure including a primary seal means which will be effective to separate the inlet to the rotor separator from the vessel outlet and a secondary seal means which will be effective to prevent finished product from reaching the drive shaft bearings.

Another object is to provide a seal arrangement whereby the shaft bearings are not subject to contact with unfinished product which has dispersing media in it.

Another object is to provide a scavenging means in the apparatus which is effective to remove undesirable small particles of dispersing media from the product being processed.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent when considered in connection with the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cut-away view in elevation of apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view in elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1; illustrating one embodiment of a rotor separator;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rotor separator taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of another embodiment of a rotor separator;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the rotor separator taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3 showing deflector blades;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in elevation of the upper portion of an apparatus of the type shown in FIG. 1 showing a third embodiment of a rotor separator and its position in the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the rotor separator of FIG. 7 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is another embodiment of a rotor separator generally similar to that of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS We refer now to the drawings wherein like reference characters in the several views designate similar parts. Referring to FIG. I, 10 designates generally the dispersing apparatus embodying the invention herein. The dispersing apparatus 10 comprises a generally cylindrical vessel 12, a rotatable agitator shaft 14, a drive unit 16 for driving the shaft 14, a plurality of impellers or agitators 18 mounted on the shaft 14, and a rotor separator 20 secured to the shaft 14. The vessel 10 and drive unit 16 usually are mounted on a suitable supporting frame 21. A pump 22 is associated with the mill to introduce premixed material into the vessel 12 to be processed. A circumferential jacket 24 is radially spaced from the vessel 12 to form therewith a chamber 26 through which a temperature controlling fluid may be circulated by means of inlet and outlet connections 28 and 30 at the upper and lower parts of the chamber 26.

The vessel is partially filled with a dispersing media 29 such as steel shot, for example, but other type of dispersing media can also be used. When steel shot is used, the vessel preferably is filled only about half way.

In the illustrated embodiment the vessel 12 is closed at both its upper and lower ends. An inlet 31 is formed in the lower end of the vessel through which a product to be processed is pumped from pump 22 via conduit 33. An outlet is disposed at the upper end of the vessel. The upper end of the vessel 12 has secured thereto a cover plate 32 which closes the upper end of the vessel. The cover plate may be formed as an integral part of the shaft bearing housing 34. The cover plate 32 may be secured to the vessel 12 by suitable means such as bolts 36 and may be constructed so as to form the upper end closure for the cylindrical chamber 26 surrounding the vessel. Fin means 38 may be provided throughout all or a part of the length of the vessel 12 to increase the cooling area. The fin means may comprise, e.g., an Acme thread formed on the outside of vessel 12.

The shaft 14 is rotatably supported in the axially extending bearing housing 34 in a conventional manner by upper and lower bearings 40 and 42. Secondary sealing means 44, which may comprise a pair of spring biased lip seals 44a and 44b of conventional construction, are disposed around the shaft 14 below the lower bearing 42 to prevent processed product from reaching the shaft bearings 40 and 42. A product outlet 46 is formed in the bearing housing 34 below the sealing means 44.

The drive unit 16 may include a variable speed motor 41 drivingly connected to the shaft 14 by a belt and pulley arrangement 43 and an adjustable control 45 for varying the tension on the belt and pulley arrangement to provide additional shaft speed control.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced deflector plates 48 may be secured to the inner wall of the vessel 12 at angles preferably of approximately 45. This angle, however, is not critical. The deflector plates are positioned generally immediately below the rotor separator 20 as best illustrated in FIG. 2 and above the uppermost of the impellers 18. Cut-away portions 48a may be formed in the deflector plates whereby the upper portions 49 of the deflector plates may extend upwardly to a position adjacent the outer periphery of the rotor separator. These deflector plates assist in preliminarily separating some of the dispersing media from the fluid mixture before the latter reaches the vicinity of the rotor separator.

The rotor separator 20 comprises an annular member 50 on the lower end of which is formed a hub portion 52 for securing the separator 20 to the shaft 14 such as by set screws 54 or other suitable means. A locking collar 56 secured to the shaft by one or more set screws may also be provided under and adjacent hub 52 to secure the separator 20 more firmly in place. The annular member 50 is of sufficient axial thickness to permit the formation therein of a plurality of rows (here shown as three in number) of circumferentially spaced generally radially extending holes or passages 58, 60 and 62. The outer ends of these passages constitute the inlet to the rotor separator. As will be observed from FIG. 2, these passages extend inwardly and upwardly at an angle of approximately with a plane normal to the axis of the rotor separator although this angle is not critical. In addition, the holes 58, 60 and 62 are not formed in a truly radial direction but rather at an angle A of approximately 15 with the radii of the annular member 50 as best seen in FIG. 3. The shaft 14 and rotor separator in operation rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3.

The rotor separator 20 is formed with a bore 64 through which the shaft 14 extends in a sliding fit relationship, the separator then being secured to the shaft 14 as previously explained. An enlarged bore portion 66 is formed in the upper portion of the separator to define with the shaft an exit chamber or outlet chamber 68 with which the rows of passages 58, 60 and 62 communicate. This chamber 68 is extended upwardly by the formation on the separator 20 of an axially extending cylindrical flange 70.

A primary seal means 72 is associated with the rotor separator and comprises a rotating face seal assembly 74 attached to the rotor separator and stationary face seal means 76 supported on the bearing housing 34. The rotating face sea] assembly 74 includes a case and spring assembly 77 mounted on and secured to axially extending flange 70 of the rotor separator 20 and rotating face seal means 78 attached to the upper end of the case and spring assembly.

The stationary face seal means 76 is secured in a stationary seal gland 80 which is secured to the lower end of the bearing housing 34 by suitable means such as bolts 81. The stationary face seal means 76 cooperates with the rotating face seal assembly 74, a spring 77a in the case and spring assembly 77 urging the rotating seal 78 against the stationary seal 76. A bore 82 is formed in the seal gland 80 and spaced from shaft 14. The face seal means 76 also is radially spaced from the shaft 14. Thus an opening 83 is defined between the shaft and seal gland and face seal means to provide a path of fluid communication between exit chamber 68 and a discharge chamber 84 from which leads outlet 46.

From the sealing arrangement just described it is apparent that the processed mixture must all pass through the passages 58, 60 and 62 of the rotor separator into the circumferential chamber 68, thence through opening 83 into discharge chamber 84 in order to reach outlet 46.

The primary sealing means 72 including the cooperating stationary face seal means 76 and rotating face seal means 78 assures that no product is discharged through outlet 46 without passing through the rotor separator 20.

A filter member 88 may be positioned on the outer axially extending surface 90 of the annular member 50 to prevent dispersing media from entering the passages 58, 60 and 62. The filter member 88 may be one of a variety of conventional filtering screens. It has been discovered with certain products to be processed, however, that a filtering screen is in fact unnecessary, the centrifugal force applied to the dispersing media during agitation being sufficient to prevent radially inward movement thereof through the passages 58, 60 and 62. It is preferable, however, to use a filter member 88.

A scavenger port 92 is provided in the upper end of the mill 10 extending through both the vessel 12 and jacket 24. Its purpose is to collect small particles of dispersing media that may break off from the media being used. These small particles are sometimes referred to as fines. The scavenger port may be defined by a small tubular member 93 extending through and secured in the vessel 12 and jacket 24. A screen filter member 94 of predetermined mesh is secured in place at the inner end of the tubular member 93. The port is closed by a removable cover plate 95 which may be secured in place by nut and bolt means 96 or other suitable means. The cover plate 95 may be formed with a tubular extension 97 which slides into the tubular member 93 and up against the screen member 94 to help hold the screen in place. O-ring seal means 98 may be disposed on the extension 97 to provide an adequate sea]. It will be apparent that as processed material is moved into the upper part of the mill and centrifugal force tends to throw the dispersing media outwardly, fines of such size as are capable of passing through screen 94 will do so and collect in the scavenger port 92 until removed. A discharge port 99 in the cover plate 95 may be fitted with a small valve 100 to allow flushing of the scavenged materials at selected intervals. When steel shot or other magnetically susceptible material is used as the dispersing media, a small magnet 101 attached to the inside of the cover plate further assists in removing fines" from the dispersing media. Opening 102 may be provided in the cover plate as a convenient location for a pressure gauge.

It will be observed that the port 92 is located substantially opposite the rotor separator. Thus the port 92 may be used as an inspection port to view the rotor separator when the cover plate 95 and screen 94 are removed.

While the operation of the dispersing apparatus probably is apparent from the foregoing, a brief description of the operation will now be given. Dispersing media such as steel shot is introduced into the vessel 12 through a suitable opening (not shown) provided in the cover plate, for example. The vessel may be filled with dispersing media up to a point substantially even with the upper agitator disc 18, for example. Sometimes less can be used, but, generally, more is not required. Temperature control fluid is circulated through the chamber 26. Premixed material including a liquid vehicle and agglomerated pigment material, for example, is fed from a storage tank (not shown) to the pump 22 which forces the material under pressure through conduit 33 and through inlet 31 into the vessel 12. The premixed material is forced up through the dispersing media while the media is being agitated by rotation of the shaft 14 and the discs 18 associated therewith. The pump functions to create a pressure differential between the inlet to and outlet from the vessel, and

the premixed materials is moved through the vessel at a controlled rate of flow. It will be appreciated that it is within the scope of the invention herein to use other means than a pump for creating the requisite pressure differential such, for example, as a controlled gravity feed.

As the product being processed is moved upwardly through the vessel pigment particles are deagglomerated and dispersed throughout the liquid vehicle. As the mixed product reaches the upper portion of the mill it encounters deflectors 48 which help initially to separate the dispersing media from the processed product. Then the processed product reaches the rotor separator 20 where the processed product is forced through screen 88, if there is one, and thence through the passages 58, 60 and 62 to the chamber 68, through bore 83, into discharge chamber 84 and through the outlet 46.

The primary seal means 72, of course, prevents processed product from reaching discharge chamber 84 without having passed through rotor separator 20. The secondary seal means 44 prevents finished product from penetrating the shaft bearings 40 and 42. The dispersing media normally being heavier than the liquid mixture, i.e., the product being processed, the media is thrown outwardly and generally away from the entrances to the passages 58, 60 and 62 in the member 50. Thus centrifugal force is utilized to advantage to effectively direct the dispersing media away from the rotor separator and from the screen filter means.

A slightly different embodiment of a rotor separator designated as 120 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Here the separator comprises an annular member 150 having a central bore 164 for receiving the shaft 14 therethrough. One or more set screws 154 may be utilized to secure the separator to the shaft 14. A single plane of circumferentially spaced and generally radially extending passages 158 are formed in the separator and communicate with an enlarged bore portion 166 which together with the shaft defines a chamber 168 which will communicate with discharge chamber 84 in the same manner as chamber 68 shown, in FIG. 2. Preferably these passages 158 form an angle A of approximately with the radii of the rotor separator 120. An enlarged bore 169 in the upper portion of the separator forms a seat for a face seal assembly adapted to cooperate with another stationary seal assembly secured to a seal gland member which is in turn secured to the bearing housing 34 and as further described in connection with the modification illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

A filter means 188 comprising a conventional screen member of a selected mesh may be positioned at the outer periphery of the separator 120. The upper part of the annular member 150 may be formed with a radially extending flange 151 on the underside of which is formed a groove 153 for receiving the upper end of the filter means. The lower end of the member 150 may be adapted to have secured thereto by bolts or other suitable means an annular flange 157 for securing the filter means 188 between the flange 151 and the flange 157.

Still another embodiment of a rotor separator is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and is designated as 220. Here the separator comprises a more elongated form of annular member 250 which has a hub portion 252 with a bore 264 for receiving the shaft 14 therethrough. One or more set screws 254 in the hub 252 secure the separator 220 to the shaft. A plurality of circumferentially spaced openings or passageways 258 are formed in the wall of the separator and are here shown as being four in number. An enlarged bore portion 266 communicates with openings 258 and together with shaft 14 defines a chamber 268 from which material flows upwardly to discharge chamber 84.

A counterbore 269 in the upper portion of the separator forms a seat for a rotating face seal means 278 which rotates with the shaft 14 and separator 220. The seal assembly 178 cooperates with a stationary face seal assembly 276 attached to a stationary spring and case assembly 274 which is positioned and supported in a bore 281 formed in a stationary seal gland 280. The latter is secured to the cover plate 32.

A filter means 288 comprising a conventional screen member of a selected mesh may be positioned at the outer periphery of the separator. It may be held in place by a ringlike flange member 257 which slides over the hub and is held in place by a pair of lock nuts 259 and 261 screwed onto hub In this particular embodiment it will be observed that the case and spring assembly 274 is associated with the stationary face seal rather than with the rotating face seal as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2. This same arrangement would be used with the rotor separator shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. For that matter the primary seal means 72 associated with the rotor separator 20 of FIGS. 2 and 3 could also be modified to place the case and spring assembly in association with the stationary seal means.

FIG. 7 also illustrates another position of deflector plates here designated as 248 showing them at a slightly lower position with respect to the rotor separator than is the case in FIG. 2. They would also be placed at an angle as explained in connection with FIGS. 2 and 6.

FIG. 9 shows still another modification of a rotor separator designated as 320. It is generally of the same type as that illustrated in FIG. 2 with the exception that it is constructed to support a case and spring assembly in an enlarged bore 370 inside the member 350 rather than having the case and spring assembly being supported on the outside of a cylindrical flange 70 (See FIG. 2). A rotating face seal means cooperates with a stationary face seal means in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 2. Processed material flows in the same manner into exit chamber 68 and upwardly along the shaft to discharge chamber 84 and outlet 46.

It is conceivable that a suitable primary sealing arrangement may be devised wherein no biasing means is used to urge the rotating face seal means and stationary face seal means into engagement with each other. This might be influenced by the type of materials used. In any event, a structure embodying such a primary sealing means would still fall within the scope of my invention.

While the structures illustrated herein depict a bottom feed apparatus with an outlet at the top it is conceivable that a structure may be devised using a rotor separator wherein the apparatus is fed from the top, the rotor separator is positioned near the bottom, and the processed material is discharged at or near the bottom of the vessel.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed it will be appreciated that these are shown by way of example only, and the invention is not to be limited thereto as other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its fullest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for deagglomerating and dispersing solid particles held in agglomerated form and carried in suspension in a liquid vehicle by the action of a dispersing media on the solids COmpI'lSlngI a mixing vessel having a fluid inlet at the bottom thereof and a fluid outlet in the upper portion thereof, said vessel being adapted to have a charge of dispersing media introduced therein, said inlet also being adapted to be operatively connected to means for introducing a fluid mixture into said inlet under pressure and moving said fluid mixture through said inlet, and through the dispersing media to said outlet;

a rotatable shaft extending into said vessel and adapted to be driven from a power source;

agitating means operatively associated with said shaft within said vessel for agitating the dispersing media;

a rotor separator for separating dispersing media from the fluid mixture, said separator being operatively associated with said shaft to be rotatably driven thereby and disposed in the path of flow between said vessel inlet and outlet;

means defining inlet means and outlet means in said rotor separator, said rotor separator outlet means being in fluid communication with said vessel outlet; and

sealing means associated with said rotor separator and disposed between the rotor inlet means and the vessel outlet whereby all processed product passes through the rotor separator before reaching the vessel outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes rotating face seal means attached to the rotor separator and stationary face seal means which cooperates with said rotating face seal means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor separator comprises an annular member, and includes means defining generally transversely extending opening means in said annular member, said rotor inlet means comprising the outer end of said opening means and said rotor outlet means comprising the inner end of said opening means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transversely extending openings in said rotor separator comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending inwardly directed passages.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor separator comprises an annular member and includes means defining generally transversely extending opening means in said annular member, and

said transversely extending openings in said rotor separator comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly extending passages having axes disposed at an angle of approximately with radii of said annular member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor separator is attached to and is disposed concentrically with said shaft, and comprises a plurality of substantially transversely extending opening means formed therein, the radially outer portion of said opening means defining rotor inlet means and the radially inner portion of said opening means defining rotor outlet means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sealing means includes rotating face seal means attached to the rotor separator and stationary face seal means which cooperates with said rotating face seal means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rotor has formed therein an enlarged bore section to define with the shaft a circumferentially disposed axially extending chamber which is in fluid communication with said rotor outlet means and the outlet from said vessel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 including second sealing means surrounding said shaft to prevent processed product from penetrating bearings associated with said shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 including filter means disposed over said rotor separator inlet means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 including a scavenger port for collecting dispersing media particles, said scavenging port extending through the wall of the mixing vessel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said scavenger port and rotor separator are disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 1 including magnet means associated with said scavenging port to assist in attracting small media particles when the dispersing media being used is magnetically susceptible material.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of deflector plates positioned below said rotor separator to assist in separating dispersing media from processed product.

15. Apparatus for deagglomerating and dispersing solid particles held in agglomerated form and carried in suspension in a liquid vehicle by the action of a dispersing media on the solids comprising:

a mixing vessel having a fluid inlet at one end thereof and a fluid outlet at the other end thereof, said vessel being adapted to have a charge of dispersing media introduced thereinto, and said inlet being adapted to be operatively connected to a pump means whereby a fluid mixture may be moved by said pump means under pressure through said inlet and through the dispersing media in said vessel to said fluid outlet;

a rotatable shaft extending into said vessel and adapted to be driven from a power source;

agitating means connected to said shaft for agitating the dispersing media;

a rotor separator mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith for separating dispersing media from the fluid mixture, said rotor separator being disposed on said shaft near said fluid outlet and in the path of flow between said vessel inlet and outlet,

said rotor separator including means defining generally transversely extending opening means therein defining inlet means thereto and outlet means therefrom adjacent said shaft, said rotor separator outlet means being in fluid communication with said fluid outlet from said vessel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 including sealing means separating said rotor separator inlet and outlet from each other.

17. In apparatus for deagglomerating and dispersing solid particles held in agglomerated form and carried in a liquid vehicle while in a mixing vessel in which the particles are subjected to the action of a dispersing media while being forced to flow through the interior of the vessel and subjected to a centrifugal and agitating action therein which causes the relatively heavier dispersing media to be thrown outwardly and separated from the flow path of the relatively lighter product or liquid mixture being processed, a dispersing media separator located interiorly of the mixing vessel so as to be positioned in said flow path and having means for the admission of the processed product thereinto and therethrough so that the product is forced to travel through said dispersing media separator in a direction opposite to that generated by the normal centrifugal force.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said separator includes generally travsversely extending passages therethrough of which the outer ends as exposed to the interi or of the vessel constitute the inlet to the separator and the inner ends constitute the outlet from the separator to an outlet from said vessel.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said passages are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said separator is mounted upon a shaft extending into the vessel and carrying agitating means in advance of the separator, said separator being capable of being rotated by the shaft.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said separator is in the form of an annular member located within the vessel in the vicinity of the vessel outlet.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including a filter screen associated with said separator.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including sealing means operatively associated with said separator and disposed between the inlet to the separator and the vessel outlet to thereby constrain the processed product to pass through the separator before reaching the vessel outlet.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including a scavenging port extending through the wall of the mixing vessel. 

1. Apparatus for deagglomerating and dispersing solid particles held in agglomerated form and carried in suspension in a liquid vehicle by the action of a dispersing media on the solids comprising: a mixing vessel having a fluid inlet at the bottom thereof and a fluid outlet in the upper portion thereof, said vessel being adapted to have a charge of dispersing media introduced therein, said inlet also being adapted to be operatively connected to means for introducing a fluid mixture into said inlet under pressure and moving said fluid mixture through said inlet, and through the dispersing media to said outlet; a rotatable shaft extending into said vessel and adapted to be driven from a power source; agitating means operatively associated with said shaft within said vessel for agitating the dispersing media; a rotor separator for separating dispersing media from the fluid mixture, said separator being operatively associated with said shaft to be rotatably driven thereby and disposed in the path of flow between said vessel inlet and outlet; means defining inlet means and outlet means in said rotor separator, said rotor separator outlet means being in fluid communication with said vessel outlet; and sealing means associated with said rotor separator and disposed between the rotor inlet means and the vessel outlet whereby all processed product passes through the rotor separator before reaching the vessel outlet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes rotating face seal means attached to the rotor separator and stationary face seal means which cooperates with said rotating face seal means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor separator comprises an annular member, and includes means defining generally transversely extending opening means in said annular member, said rotor inlet means comprising the outer end of said opening means and said rotor outlet means comprising the inner end of said opening means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transversely extending openings in said rotor separator comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending inwardly directed passages.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor separator comprises an annular member and includes means defining generally transversely extending opening means in said annular member, and said transversely extending openings in said rotor separator comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly extending passages having axes disposed at an angle of approximately 15* with radii of said annular member.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor separator is attached to and is disposed concentrically with said shaft, and comprises a plurality of substantially transversely extending opening means formed therein, the radially outer portion of said opening means defining rotor inlet means and the radially inner portion of said opening means defining rotor outlet means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said sealing means includes rotating face seal means attached to the rotor separator and stationary face seal means which cooperates with said rotating face seal means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rotor has formed therein an enlarged bore section to define with the shaft a circumferentially disposed axially Extending chamber which is in fluid communication with said rotor outlet means and the outlet from said vessel.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 including second sealing means surrounding said shaft to prevent processed product from penetrating bearings associated with said shaft.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 including filter means disposed over said rotor separator inlet means.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 including a scavenger port for collecting dispersing media particles, said scavenging port extending through the wall of the mixing vessel.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said scavenger port and rotor separator are disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 including magnet means associated with said scavenging port to assist in attracting small media particles when the dispersing media being used is magnetically susceptible material.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of deflector plates positioned below said rotor separator to assist in separating dispersing media from processed product.
 15. Apparatus for deagglomerating and dispersing solid particles held in agglomerated form and carried in suspension in a liquid vehicle by the action of a dispersing media on the solids comprising: a mixing vessel having a fluid inlet at one end thereof and a fluid outlet at the other end thereof, said vessel being adapted to have a charge of dispersing media introduced thereinto, and said inlet being adapted to be operatively connected to a pump means whereby a fluid mixture may be moved by said pump means under pressure through said inlet and through the dispersing media in said vessel to said fluid outlet; a rotatable shaft extending into said vessel and adapted to be driven from a power source; agitating means connected to said shaft for agitating the dispersing media; a rotor separator mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith for separating dispersing media from the fluid mixture, said rotor separator being disposed on said shaft near said fluid outlet and in the path of flow between said vessel inlet and outlet, said rotor separator including means defining generally transversely extending opening means therein defining inlet means thereto and outlet means therefrom adjacent said shaft, said rotor separator outlet means being in fluid communication with said fluid outlet from said vessel.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 including sealing means separating said rotor separator inlet and outlet from each other.
 17. In apparatus for deagglomerating and dispersing solid particles held in agglomerated form and carried in a liquid vehicle while in a mixing vessel in which the particles are subjected to the action of a dispersing media while being forced to flow through the interior of the vessel and subjected to a centrifugal and agitating action therein which causes the relatively heavier dispersing media to be thrown outwardly and separated from the flow path of the relatively lighter product or liquid mixture being processed, a dispersing media separator located interiorly of the mixing vessel so as to be positioned in said flow path and having means for the admission of the processed product thereinto and therethrough so that the product is forced to travel through said dispersing media separator in a direction opposite to that generated by the normal centrifugal force.
 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said separator includes generally travsversely extending passages therethrough of which the outer ends as exposed to the interior of the vessel constitute the inlet to the separator and the inner ends constitute the outlet from the separator to an outlet from said vessel.
 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said passages are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vessel.
 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said separator is mounted upon a shaft extending into the vessel and carryIng agitating means in advance of the separator, said separator being capable of being rotated by the shaft.
 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said separator is in the form of an annular member located within the vessel in the vicinity of the vessel outlet.
 22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including a filter screen associated with said separator.
 23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including sealing means operatively associated with said separator and disposed between the inlet to the separator and the vessel outlet to thereby constrain the processed product to pass through the separator before reaching the vessel outlet.
 24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 including a scavenging port extending through the wall of the mixing vessel. 